Bond Girl For A Day Or Two

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">While our book club has covered many wonderful authors and correlating activities this year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have to say this James Bond study has been my favorite so far</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been ridiculously fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the lowdown...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zipping through London along the River Thames</div><div style="text-align: center;">at a top speed of 35 knots,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this RIB boat ride had us grinning from ear to ear</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a few bugs in our teeth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Vowing to bring our kids next time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this is the best way to see London from the water</div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.londonribvoyages.com/">London RIB Voyages</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ16fhp5ZZ9-OLfrq3QZrSwIqbarLk0gDAyp1axt2iGMHyOaw0tFJKyxB2-m2xnBe4m26O11mKZY7CIXZmFcQ-E0E4eDcqKmScpZx5vgP7OjGELsac7BzWFOzS6XaFz8A2U4jhpFPe-1QZ/s1600/DSC08349-0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ16fhp5ZZ9-OLfrq3QZrSwIqbarLk0gDAyp1axt2iGMHyOaw0tFJKyxB2-m2xnBe4m26O11mKZY7CIXZmFcQ-E0E4eDcqKmScpZx5vgP7OjGELsac7BzWFOzS6XaFz8A2U4jhpFPe-1QZ/s640/DSC08349-0021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We opted for the James Bond themed ride - Bond music included</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Visit tucked-away <a href="http://dukeshotel.com/">Duke's Hotel</a> in the heart of London</div><div style="text-align: center;">where Bond's author, Ian Fleming, enjoyed his martinis</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Sean Connery celebrated being cast as James Bond</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(also a frequent Bond film location)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilJiYoKTS1P4uog3JASiYyxBOPdJv1-KjXi7EbOEMzGukrMHgpphhYlld4QKNKivCZeyGcVvi6GLowIdWoxK1ofFqyKmE5zjppzRSnl_hzdqQEIU8kVv4_yMrSp0dNPquncdpU9BeJFhR/s1600/DSC08267-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilJiYoKTS1P4uog3JASiYyxBOPdJv1-KjXi7EbOEMzGukrMHgpphhYlld4QKNKivCZeyGcVvi6GLowIdWoxK1ofFqyKmE5zjppzRSnl_hzdqQEIU8kVv4_yMrSp0dNPquncdpU9BeJFhR/s640/DSC08267-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Offers afternoon tea and/or martinis concocted from a table-side cart</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Celebrating </div><div style="text-align: center;">'50 Vehicles. 50 Years.',</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beaulieu's <a href="http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/">National Motor Museum</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> is exhibiting the creatively cool collection of</div><div style="text-align: center;">jetpacks, submarines, cars, motorcycles, and flying contraptions</div><div style="text-align: center;">featured in Bond films</div><div style="text-align: center;">(ends January 5, 2014)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaI7TqDoJBzK0pAtgZnRdWorDRCdoFWSKTHWoohtJCXbZzpC_0uSpFXxR-LuspA7ngdSJoFWMLpm1tuZ3GNc4WWgnfgsqEUeX6G1CynGYxc_ARXWxiZkXFvB7B7Mp-VKoGdwEDRgfvnas/s1600/Photo+37-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaI7TqDoJBzK0pAtgZnRdWorDRCdoFWSKTHWoohtJCXbZzpC_0uSpFXxR-LuspA7ngdSJoFWMLpm1tuZ3GNc4WWgnfgsqEUeX6G1CynGYxc_ARXWxiZkXFvB7B7Mp-VKoGdwEDRgfvnas/s640/Photo+37-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge hit with my son</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worthy of a standing ovation, Richard Walker's enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us</div><div style="text-align: center;">as we learned the backstory of author Ian Fleming</div><div style="text-align: center;">and true accounts of spies operating in London during his time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A two hour guided walking tour by <a href="http://www.walks.com/">London Walks</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVLKL2qJlZVQJDVGwTqQt8_2oWKIhyphenhyphenLpsMAHuMSDQTVM1ARbKxdHy_NQsWh9W6vWdwjlCpZad2GFn2pijf1ADwXpuDNMFnLsb6hixhQ_FFKK7W8ebOfLpjKHlartNmBsX4M3N4rrQ6oES/s1600/DSC08255-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVLKL2qJlZVQJDVGwTqQt8_2oWKIhyphenhyphenLpsMAHuMSDQTVM1ARbKxdHy_NQsWh9W6vWdwjlCpZad2GFn2pijf1ADwXpuDNMFnLsb6hixhQ_FFKK7W8ebOfLpjKHlartNmBsX4M3N4rrQ6oES/s640/DSC08255-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spied Eon Productions, the film production company producing James Bond film series</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shaken, not stirred...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lastly, we strutted over to <a href="http://www.windmilltaverns.com/jacks/">Jack's Lounge</a> in London's Southwark district</div><div style="text-align: center;">for a cocktail class with some friendly competition within our group</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Learning about bartender tools and how to properly shake a drink,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> we made yummy Passion Fruit Martinis and </div><div style="text-align: center;">complicated Flaming Orange Cosmopolitans</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSAz5dTzifUbyNyf66cwvd1XS9VuKr3TlhjJ175PUMPxuZRhNpLVL1GqoG044doJey8OXyC0tU28KO6OgWZU7QutqTMan6d2gm-G5dLwKsMsFARJ3vUtpw_zs32y8Idqdzzv9AxhsKHGy/s1600/DSC08373-0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSAz5dTzifUbyNyf66cwvd1XS9VuKr3TlhjJ175PUMPxuZRhNpLVL1GqoG044doJey8OXyC0tU28KO6OgWZU7QutqTMan6d2gm-G5dLwKsMsFARJ3vUtpw_zs32y8Idqdzzv9AxhsKHGy/s640/DSC08373-0021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a few ideas we didn't get to...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Through <a href="http://britmovietours.com/bookings/spy-movie-outer-london-tour/">Brit Movie Tours</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">visit Pinewood Studios where many Bond movies have been filmed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-london/horrible-histories-spies">Imperial War Museum</a> is hosting Horrible Histories: Spies</div><div style="text-align: center;">as a fun interactive exhibition in London for families</div><div style="text-align: center;">(on my 'must do' list) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Be a stunt car driver for the day on a challenging specialized track</div><div style="text-align: center;">Give high speed parallel parking a try after you make a reverse spin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Offered by Top Gear's <a href="http://www.paulswift.com/ultimate-stunt-driving.asp">Paul Swift Precision Driving</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">near Guildford, Milton Keynes, and Durham</div><div style="text-align: center;">(would be a total blast with my husband)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And there's more!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Find out more about Ian Fleming and Bond in my next post</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More In Bond Series ::</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/interview-of-bond-girl.html">Interview Of A Bond Girl</a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/fascinating-world-of-ian-fleming.html">Fascinating World Of Ian Fleming</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Bond Girl For A Day Or Two

While our book club has covered many wonderful authors and correlating activities this year, I have to say this James Bond study has been my...

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Interview Of A Bond Girl

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This month our book club is reading Ian Fleming's 'Dr No' featuring James Bond</div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, Cheltenham Literature Festival selected it for The Big Read last year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What better way to start the book study </div><div style="text-align: center;">than lunch with a friend</div><div style="text-align: center;">who happened to be a Bond Girl?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2bRI_cR06VbN8qc68j1YKeatvDHNoKLXWdc9EFhw8AAk0bJEkaoInnFu4XHbL2tIwAdb_-e05zCAPh3lrtTX9J2vLP-z8KbA4PQrISsTL3OF3tKtlz5Y0bkq0HIXjkoNAD1Ux4sAMk_c/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2bRI_cR06VbN8qc68j1YKeatvDHNoKLXWdc9EFhw8AAk0bJEkaoInnFu4XHbL2tIwAdb_-e05zCAPh3lrtTX9J2vLP-z8KbA4PQrISsTL3OF3tKtlz5Y0bkq0HIXjkoNAD1Ux4sAMk_c/s400/photo+(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of Vanessa Perroncel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meet lovely Vanessa - a French model, actress, and mom</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She appeared in the James Bond film 'Die Another Day' (2002)</div><div style="text-align: center;">starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePVZVlIA2ymmEKyilJcR-yDz-JHIxSa9xUQoTsISz3Nj5SoRIQhgWrzORJXz373RQD2G5qoy-eFE4v8cbAnIPuigA9mJIsPLQ1EL9eP008wkOPfnMBjtE3ba9sSire9u4WCAIUfTTPm05/s1600/Die_another_Day_-_UK_cinema_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePVZVlIA2ymmEKyilJcR-yDz-JHIxSa9xUQoTsISz3Nj5SoRIQhgWrzORJXz373RQD2G5qoy-eFE4v8cbAnIPuigA9mJIsPLQ1EL9eP008wkOPfnMBjtE3ba9sSire9u4WCAIUfTTPm05/s640/Die_another_Day_-_UK_cinema_poster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_another_day"> Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's her response to my questions </div><div style="text-align: center;">over a yummy goat cheese salad :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>What was the process of being selected for the film?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vanessa went to an invitation-only 'request casting' in London based on photos submitted by her agent. When she arrived, she was measured intensely - maybe for clothing, maybe to check proportions. Shortly thereafter, Vanessa received the phone call that she was chosen to be one of nine 'Ice Palace Girls' in the film 'Die Another Day'.</div><br /><i>What it was like on set?</i><br /><i><br /></i> <br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ice Palace scene was filmed in Pinewood Studios, just outside London. A car was sent to pick up Vanessa on filming days (and nights). The leading actors had their own trailers, and the Ice Palace Girls had a tent to retreat to. Over her 7 -10 days on set, there was a real buzz in the air. It was a lot of fun, and everyone was very nice. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The set was quite cold, really beautiful and a bit surreal. They dressed Vanessa exquisitely in beautiful dresses, furs and shoes. Make up artists and hair stylists were always nearby for quick touch ups for all the actors. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With filming there is always a lot of waiting. And you never know how much of your scene will make the final cut.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBI0ER_6FqHIpi2ucuVSFNb15S7EksM4LOjph-iH8vT9lZDZ7YhJIHNBf7S6rUot5G-5m3YV6YVz_eGCcoAnCqr3L2w8ZWkcDMqVpJitI8_YOhpoTGCfM9eTRGTmMVneRw9vvtG1b_CFK/s1600/james-bond-die-another-day-ice-palace-bar-foyer-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBI0ER_6FqHIpi2ucuVSFNb15S7EksM4LOjph-iH8vT9lZDZ7YhJIHNBf7S6rUot5G-5m3YV6YVz_eGCcoAnCqr3L2w8ZWkcDMqVpJitI8_YOhpoTGCfM9eTRGTmMVneRw9vvtG1b_CFK/s640/james-bond-die-another-day-ice-palace-bar-foyer-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Palace Set<br />Source: <a href="http://emmasbucketlist.com/2013/04/16/stay-at-the-ice-hotel-sweden/">Emma's Bucket List</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>What does it mean to you to be a Bond Girl? </i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, it looks good on the CV/resume, of course. And people are still impressed that she was in a Bond film, although to Vanessa it's no big deal and was a long time ago. But it still carries a wow factor for many. Now she's really focused on her future and raising her son. </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thank you, Vanessa, for giving us a peek into <span style="text-align: center;">the 'real' world of Bond!</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next post I'll uncover local locations</div><div style="text-align: center;">where you can feel like a Bond Girl for a day</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">More In Bond Series ::</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/bond-girl-for-day-or-two.html">Bond Girl For A Day Or Two</a> (local activities)<br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/fascinating-world-of-ian-fleming.html">Fascinating World Of Ian Fleming</a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Interview Of A Bond Girl

This month our book club is reading Ian Fleming's 'Dr No' featuring James Bond In fact, Cheltenham Literature Festival selected ...

Read more »

London's Changing Skyline

<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I went into London and</div><div style="text-align: center;">- wow! -</div><div style="text-align: center;">was I shocked by all the construction of new skyscrapers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tKIL1vmQaeCNBeMBpna6nvnQlGjx2OFHk8ZLyJodTq2Uz53HYQIespJENy2425541VL_noMCwNNU-f8lBP_a-Dkcr-xT88qOep7La_Br8psp1AbEXVRX5Wpiov_PXuD5uNfLRYLqVZmX/s1600/Photo+3-0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tKIL1vmQaeCNBeMBpna6nvnQlGjx2OFHk8ZLyJodTq2Uz53HYQIespJENy2425541VL_noMCwNNU-f8lBP_a-Dkcr-xT88qOep7La_Br8psp1AbEXVRX5Wpiov_PXuD5uNfLRYLqVZmX/s640/Photo+3-0051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Waterloo Bridge yesterday</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the most notable additions...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The City's Leadenhall Building, aka 'The Cheese Grater', </div><div style="text-align: center;">has a distinct wedge shape</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is due for completion next year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWBouz7Hc7RYCopfZ0uVlkqa4zDTIjyyM3LbcWxadXPei8or0iStRb4nkkmnv2FiKuU07Z6ZoTY3ETaVs6Mlsf28xN_y7hvyHdAB0ipKVX1diLDmhv-GZbWKw6wHa9BZmc_13olmNY2wI/s1600/Leadenhall_Building_Artist's_Impression.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWBouz7Hc7RYCopfZ0uVlkqa4zDTIjyyM3LbcWxadXPei8or0iStRb4nkkmnv2FiKuU07Z6ZoTY3ETaVs6Mlsf28xN_y7hvyHdAB0ipKVX1diLDmhv-GZbWKw6wHa9BZmc_13olmNY2wI/s640/Leadenhall_Building_Artist's_Impression.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">artist drawing: <a href="http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=49">Skyscraper News</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2.</div><div style="text-align: center;">20 Fenchurch Street (below) has been in the news recently</div><div style="text-align: center;">for a glare so powerful that a sunscreen was erected </div><div style="text-align: center;">to prevent car paint from blistering </div><div style="text-align: center;">and pedestrians from getting burned </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The 'Walkie Talkie' building has an unusual top heavy design</div><div style="text-align: center;">and should be completed in 2014<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIckOuOrPwn349ucCfHXuDJgeiSJPY-5fQ5pd6R4u7ciFGMdQajQY8kmf2NskJHG8uew1cSb8KtAzzGo0LPHIjbc2L0LO4y2dVnmrzVPTXKxjGqTTvRyJvbqVY51xlQtXSvKe0ZG8MY5o/s1600/DSC08321-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIckOuOrPwn349ucCfHXuDJgeiSJPY-5fQ5pd6R4u7ciFGMdQajQY8kmf2NskJHG8uew1cSb8KtAzzGo0LPHIjbc2L0LO4y2dVnmrzVPTXKxjGqTTvRyJvbqVY51xlQtXSvKe0ZG8MY5o/s640/DSC08321-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Walkie Talkie' in foreground<br />'Cheese Grater' in background</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now standing as the tallest building in Western Europe,</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Shard successfully opened this year<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjC0naHKaZYnIgGZfvHwnFMNSUe9L0IfmaPShZ0RMHGpCe_DF7M7n__k_unCwQIk218xnFV9hCcnmfzJePBO9Lg3SwWRUfAe1LEwmFYfZP-TwPgO0pGt0ghUm2OVzJ1FhScLuHJfM4kbP/s1600/DSC08351-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjC0naHKaZYnIgGZfvHwnFMNSUe9L0IfmaPShZ0RMHGpCe_DF7M7n__k_unCwQIk218xnFV9hCcnmfzJePBO9Lg3SwWRUfAe1LEwmFYfZP-TwPgO0pGt0ghUm2OVzJ1FhScLuHJfM4kbP/s640/DSC08351-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you haven't been in London for a while,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you'll be surprised by its evolving skyline</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While I love old buildings with character, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I appreciate the innovative design of this newest generation</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is replacing nondescript buildings of the past,</div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping London fresh and cutting edge :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you think?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yea or nay<br />to a skyline change?<br /><br />Hmm, I can't decide<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me, unless otherwise noted -</i></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

London's Changing Skyline

Yesterday I went into London and - wow! - was I shocked by all the construction of new skyscrapers View from Waterloo Bridge yesterday Here...

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Rooftop Tour Of Hampton Court

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hampton Court is best known as the grand palace of </div><div style="text-align: center;">King Henry VIII</div><div style="text-align: center;">(the king with six wives)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is situated just outside London</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is also famous for its 411 chimneys,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many of which I saw up close on a recent rooftop tour</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXnKqzaa1KuYW6yHkKd2bJx00ioZPf-ACMT_p-YVkgdZDmcJStqfYtwLmb_6bzXV_Moi4aoUBg5K5XsBTWMt0VJe0RKZ5S4Abcrd2ICAqXGw9mgKYnSLPJZNy78OZYXxzo4NdzYn7VNJB/s1600/DSC08235-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXnKqzaa1KuYW6yHkKd2bJx00ioZPf-ACMT_p-YVkgdZDmcJStqfYtwLmb_6bzXV_Moi4aoUBg5K5XsBTWMt0VJe0RKZ5S4Abcrd2ICAqXGw9mgKYnSLPJZNy78OZYXxzo4NdzYn7VNJB/s640/DSC08235-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">During Tudor times, brick indicated power and wealth</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glass windows did too</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">King Henry VIII was very OTT in everything he did</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOSSxz0ZHmlDYhWLSy92IcwmAIMGVW922tTjkcjfJKQmLwYpv3fmpav_MfdaE-N3hqTF-fx4QJHPqgUj2IfyD38hdV5XM6X7uhHHzmdenvJtbxw7yOhh2CaS4dhLElVXh2N14E-AlQ3Sc/s1600/DSC08207-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOSSxz0ZHmlDYhWLSy92IcwmAIMGVW922tTjkcjfJKQmLwYpv3fmpav_MfdaE-N3hqTF-fx4QJHPqgUj2IfyD38hdV5XM6X7uhHHzmdenvJtbxw7yOhh2CaS4dhLElVXh2N14E-AlQ3Sc/s640/DSC08207-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were two distinct building periods of the palace</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The fancy chimneys belong to the Tudor times (1500s)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the rectangular Baroque chimneys were designed<br />by Christopher Wren during King William III's reign (1690s)<br /><br />The majority of Tudor chimneys were replaced during the Victorian era due to disrepair<br />And although it is rumored no two Tudor chimneys are alike,<br />our guides could not confirm<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahh, a wonderful view of the River Thames and the parterre garden,</div><div style="text-align: center;">intended to be seen from above and to rival Versailles at the time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoF2iY3LmcTwt-NReEoldIRgm2w3R8bd3TkskLjBjbDDYIgnb-xdqGXW1uiPx5rxZLqJdYjp_5usuuPuUEzxXGZjKPtPyJ4kZ2Xwk28xI6eRxHK5McO3TI3gftiEsUc0TVsdh3W1_iJdg/s1600/Photo+6-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoF2iY3LmcTwt-NReEoldIRgm2w3R8bd3TkskLjBjbDDYIgnb-xdqGXW1uiPx5rxZLqJdYjp_5usuuPuUEzxXGZjKPtPyJ4kZ2Xwk28xI6eRxHK5McO3TI3gftiEsUc0TVsdh3W1_iJdg/s640/Photo+6-005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was great to see this famous landmark from an unusual angle</div><div style="text-align: center;">and to drink in the spectacular sweeping vistas from the rooftop</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wish you could have been there!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">For tour, contact <a href="http://www.thehistoryguides.co.uk/">www.thehistoryguides.co.uk</a></span><br /> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Rooftop Tour Of Hampton Court

Hampton Court is best known as the grand palace of  King Henry VIII (the king with six wives) and is situated just outside London It is also...

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Travel :: Slovenia

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">How was your summer?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ours was fantastic</div><div style="text-align: center;">partly due to this completely </div><div style="text-align: center;">(what seemed to me) random trip</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Slovenia -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I find some of the best experiences come in obscure packaging</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I also find that as we travel Europe, it is not the topography that is so striking</div><div style="text-align: center;">(often something similar in the US)</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the architecture<br /><br />So loving this view...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Y2Ye4dAN8PEhP-gj4JHL7U0ys5elhBLfb0vuM2ATYU9orbJjOaVSRu-1gBwJd5KnlsEVc0Ue9bpy3KpqJRMaE_QhPi0zBeHwMf5CemoHxDEqTYaNEkALozR7yWa898Xm66-ED-hkZIoL/s1600/DSC07726-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Y2Ye4dAN8PEhP-gj4JHL7U0ys5elhBLfb0vuM2ATYU9orbJjOaVSRu-1gBwJd5KnlsEVc0Ue9bpy3KpqJRMaE_QhPi0zBeHwMf5CemoHxDEqTYaNEkALozR7yWa898Xm66-ED-hkZIoL/s640/DSC07726-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at these adorable, traditional haystacks with so much personality :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkhyvhDOBiQszKdj2970wecJxnC7l8FqG_GQt3rXSLTXfGJ78vUdFNONo-CXJegRFYATMXNQxm-t_vG0V2eP9e416veFnAggeEW3igWLo82iUgo7deJC1JsceKzYpmywvUO2EMJXup15R/s1600/DSC07733-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkhyvhDOBiQszKdj2970wecJxnC7l8FqG_GQt3rXSLTXfGJ78vUdFNONo-CXJegRFYATMXNQxm-t_vG0V2eP9e416veFnAggeEW3igWLo82iUgo7deJC1JsceKzYpmywvUO2EMJXup15R/s640/DSC07733-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you may remember, Slovenia was part of former Yugoslavia until 1991</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />It didn't look or feel like it was a former Eastern Bloc country (although it was),</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Slovenia had the cleanliness and orderliness of their northern Austrian neighbors</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw pizzerias in every village and</div><div style="text-align: center;">experienced the friendliness and warmth like their Italian neighbors to the west</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone we met spoke English, Italian, and Slovene</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzovWZSVeXS7RqaAo70-0CGt7KekNIhYEx6HhfQdJqkFE6SnvlDJFzTyNWnJhdXuNRCIZtLboHxZBH_lOkUfADSFUVA3zdJjm3jdk7e9X5Hrvxxok5LccQs1RqoSHK1I6vztIoAwOWbHr/s1600/Photo+5-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzovWZSVeXS7RqaAo70-0CGt7KekNIhYEx6HhfQdJqkFE6SnvlDJFzTyNWnJhdXuNRCIZtLboHxZBH_lOkUfADSFUVA3zdJjm3jdk7e9X5Hrvxxok5LccQs1RqoSHK1I6vztIoAwOWbHr/s640/Photo+5-200.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We traveled the northwest region of Slovenia through the Julian Alps,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is a warmer section of the Alps due to the Mediterranean Sea being close-ish</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a result, delphiniums, cyclamen, and scabiosa grow wild in the forest</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I know!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">offering kayaking, rafting, paragliding, rock climbing, hiking,</div><div style="text-align: center;">zip lines, and even snow skiing in the winter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm dying to try river 'hydrospeeding' on specialized boards next time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can see, the water was an amazingly clear, sea-glass color</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PHEttlQ5YpleWuqICsw-Q9IifMP2HWoP_NmKjevqZ3jakKvOSas0TpcJB1zpLDcW0XiX2RwTpFVBRBzUxIAJLfyXkAwER5r3XRRzCdxw-KKDj-7Q2BvvbN-OBCA4TT51mn8God8sKLv-/s1600/DSC07839-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PHEttlQ5YpleWuqICsw-Q9IifMP2HWoP_NmKjevqZ3jakKvOSas0TpcJB1zpLDcW0XiX2RwTpFVBRBzUxIAJLfyXkAwER5r3XRRzCdxw-KKDj-7Q2BvvbN-OBCA4TT51mn8God8sKLv-/s640/DSC07839-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although we ran out of time to do all we wanted to do, </div><div style="text-align: center;">we did give 'canyoning' a try</div><div style="text-align: center;">which involved scrambling, climbing, </div><div style="text-align: center;">sliding, jumping, rapelling (abseiling), and swimming</div><div style="text-align: center;">through narrow river canyons</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Super fun, a little bit scary, and very wet!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBNcwlenijKA0ae8QBECMckhLCNM5PE18BnfF6WkqnHj6bvTXarp4b07YKT5c369FyiXz0hagJlvsTTof3_kkGtSaFGBxCbeuzHKiihJrz6DTTqkYnT-ZmzDYL8l4rN7Pmkz9gzm9hMUZ/s1600/DSC07809-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBNcwlenijKA0ae8QBECMckhLCNM5PE18BnfF6WkqnHj6bvTXarp4b07YKT5c369FyiXz0hagJlvsTTof3_kkGtSaFGBxCbeuzHKiihJrz6DTTqkYnT-ZmzDYL8l4rN7Pmkz9gzm9hMUZ/s640/DSC07809-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Lake Bohinj is where we would like to spend more time</div><div style="text-align: center;">on its beautiful tranquil waters</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_Hhb6KbSHBL62TIlxRoyDNQxbWziX01WGsaOLAMCLfjHvCE3Q5hRmiA33Z97vAT5ex1Eg8lF9H4E9oTGgo5nBkc7cykBF6dRwdeUHVwEUucRXlJNdBlrowlVNDZ9U7aAvsogP2Gx5keV/s1600/DSC07943-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_Hhb6KbSHBL62TIlxRoyDNQxbWziX01WGsaOLAMCLfjHvCE3Q5hRmiA33Z97vAT5ex1Eg8lF9H4E9oTGgo5nBkc7cykBF6dRwdeUHVwEUucRXlJNdBlrowlVNDZ9U7aAvsogP2Gx5keV/s640/DSC07943-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We found many delightful curiosities such as this homemade diving board...</div><div style="text-align: center;">(yes, we had to give it a try!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFx61OqjQx-s6vD9nNwtQN4ue8ZgZEF2VhpbwB5hL9ER5BBIWSZ8znyJI5p1l8sd8qd_GD0MkAAwv7fIJhoyyjDcja-R0PrdxVSxGR3FITSE3PTlcgm66XahpLYYshCp3WZCU3qzwjsqf/s1600/DSC07931-021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFx61OqjQx-s6vD9nNwtQN4ue8ZgZEF2VhpbwB5hL9ER5BBIWSZ8znyJI5p1l8sd8qd_GD0MkAAwv7fIJhoyyjDcja-R0PrdxVSxGR3FITSE3PTlcgm66XahpLYYshCp3WZCU3qzwjsqf/s640/DSC07931-021.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...'open borders' between countries in this region thanks to the European Union</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not a person to be seen (although I'm sure video cameras were watching)...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mJjPa_iC0znyiFo-4vMEj8x-Ip5T5auZzgdqkzG3FEQ-qWpIfOeiIMqW36OmEC9qmtc6f-gkIyLmeLj_bRqw1CF5nYznxWHc9PP0qQIBG5zxVN9Dy-05TrnS2zKeyrtDnXJChlkJAQ0q/s1600/DSC07990-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mJjPa_iC0znyiFo-4vMEj8x-Ip5T5auZzgdqkzG3FEQ-qWpIfOeiIMqW36OmEC9qmtc6f-gkIyLmeLj_bRqw1CF5nYznxWHc9PP0qQIBG5zxVN9Dy-05TrnS2zKeyrtDnXJChlkJAQ0q/s640/DSC07990-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desolate border between Slovenia and Italy</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">& I'm always a sucker for a cow crossing photo op</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpKHpQMkd1NMTYUr4K30LYN3yhLihB-jWog8Qnk8qpPT3KYvpJJOtnAjOX3_BljvKhau1DyPhr_1hnv8KIBW_WvFPwnwEcnhnRaM_KI9RMEZvPmKMPNgpBR2GQwh-A5nz01zN3ZeNvj7r/s1600/DSC07905-0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpKHpQMkd1NMTYUr4K30LYN3yhLihB-jWog8Qnk8qpPT3KYvpJJOtnAjOX3_BljvKhau1DyPhr_1hnv8KIBW_WvFPwnwEcnhnRaM_KI9RMEZvPmKMPNgpBR2GQwh-A5nz01zN3ZeNvj7r/s640/DSC07905-0019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />One of our funniest moments was taking a wrong turn<br />which led us into a looong 5 mile tunnel<br /><br />When we exited the tunnel, the sign said 'Willkommen'<br />for we had found ourselves in Austria</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />That was a surprise - talk about wrong turns!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How was your summer?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Travel :: Slovenia

How was your summer? Ours was fantastic partly due to this completely  (what seemed to me) random trip - Slovenia - I find some of the best ...

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My English Garden Fix

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having not visited a garden all summer,</div><div style="text-align: center;">yesterday my family and I headed out to <a href="http://www.bordehill.co.uk/">Borde Hill Garden</a> in West Sussex</div><div style="text-align: center;">with our little puppy, Millie, in tow</div><div style="text-align: center;">(her first big outing)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Described as </div><div style="text-align: center;">'One of the country's truly great gardens' by Country Life Magazine,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was thrilled to have the 17 acre garden to ourselves</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the heavy rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which I insisted would subside any minute) (I was so wrong)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcfi8eLUE3757qgN_UGpP4KR5Ts8rOmJwSku6PZQedK20ucCkwbwsYT83MaSQaIk4n4E7lallVXZawrlImI-Pu9JWPAY5lnSYz9L6lDdJ8beObvQY0kcctyc6i5AcWb_jdm2uj_1rtgxR/s1600/DSC08119-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcfi8eLUE3757qgN_UGpP4KR5Ts8rOmJwSku6PZQedK20ucCkwbwsYT83MaSQaIk4n4E7lallVXZawrlImI-Pu9JWPAY5lnSYz9L6lDdJ8beObvQY0kcctyc6i5AcWb_jdm2uj_1rtgxR/s640/DSC08119-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And although the garden was past its prime in September,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was still stunning nonetheless</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its Elizabethan mansion in the background</div><div style="text-align: center;">(still occupied by the same family since 1893)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and The Italian Garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">- what a view -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnr92AqyqBk3C5VDqegH0GoWNKMmIvzMMiv8jQPhl_ZF5EU1mToES923_uwRG_pbmofFrE5S_i3mG2XfKerCVkdaBXJFZba8hiWNfWL8S8uum4IAy-HEX7slBOXS9W1sv1VL2v1QZhFQl/s1600/DSC08139-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnr92AqyqBk3C5VDqegH0GoWNKMmIvzMMiv8jQPhl_ZF5EU1mToES923_uwRG_pbmofFrE5S_i3mG2XfKerCVkdaBXJFZba8hiWNfWL8S8uum4IAy-HEX7slBOXS9W1sv1VL2v1QZhFQl/s640/DSC08139-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The photo below was taken with my favorite camera lens app, Pro HDR</div><div style="text-align: center;">It creates depth in landscape shots, sometimes even better than my fancy camera</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It takes two photos - one under-exposed and one over-exposed - and places </div><div style="text-align: center;">one on top of the other to create a photograph like magic</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2hvqbNVcp98XRFN2Tnmkl13GBQP3EKSmjbZF-2W_3s6lu0_pOhP6U256tyN3IV2Pm2yhGg_YBRzNpD6P2Dg_jkcmuM-OrcGTEEIRdP8HAb9haDfwiHyFS2P5Wc0mqNJD63fOdx7hEMvs/s1600/photo+4+(2)-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2hvqbNVcp98XRFN2Tnmkl13GBQP3EKSmjbZF-2W_3s6lu0_pOhP6U256tyN3IV2Pm2yhGg_YBRzNpD6P2Dg_jkcmuM-OrcGTEEIRdP8HAb9haDfwiHyFS2P5Wc0mqNJD63fOdx7hEMvs/s640/photo+4+(2)-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My son recently told me about an app called 'Bump'</div><div style="text-align: center;">he'd read about in a recent spy-thriller novel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a clever app which allows you to transfer photos and other information</div><div style="text-align: center;"> from your smart phone to another device</div><div style="text-align: center;">just by bumping them together</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The crazy thing works!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Any apps you've discovered recently?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So now with the heat on in the house for the first time in a while,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wish you a wonderful week ahead </div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="font-family: EuphemiaRegular; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>

My English Garden Fix

Having not visited a garden all summer, yesterday my family and I headed out to Borde Hill Garden in West Sussex with our little puppy, Mil...

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Last Weeks Of Summer

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The great weather continues to hold in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">as summer dons her most beautiful dress</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Views of</div><div style="text-align: center;">fields and majestic oak trees...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_vBuQerNkrUtNRtqiVidsoMHrYTl0eVFV1s6GCB4AjpT0Cn-1McGLG-TVoE-IOYIPZPPfJslP1QzKScRYPYMgtbjOKZqOo0riGmkJFS4ShUkk4AGFr1aH_i9JU4WiXfoWIWimDkUJzCT/s1600/photo-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_vBuQerNkrUtNRtqiVidsoMHrYTl0eVFV1s6GCB4AjpT0Cn-1McGLG-TVoE-IOYIPZPPfJslP1QzKScRYPYMgtbjOKZqOo0riGmkJFS4ShUkk4AGFr1aH_i9JU4WiXfoWIWimDkUJzCT/s640/photo-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">charming homes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Yw8IUXfBXasEn_SOz8En0M7V4ulwwzKV_5n_7ZWR7MTmio_mAZVJOdIJE9ejSuJUNIzpkEhnJbqP-6K0tEa73s4KKDbVZ6abbcTMX89B3Av3iNVizROFVQw2sPvrpn943u6JuCr8UfW/s1600/photo+2+(4)+1-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Yw8IUXfBXasEn_SOz8En0M7V4ulwwzKV_5n_7ZWR7MTmio_mAZVJOdIJE9ejSuJUNIzpkEhnJbqP-6K0tEa73s4KKDbVZ6abbcTMX89B3Av3iNVizROFVQw2sPvrpn943u6JuCr8UfW/s640/photo+2+(4)+1-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the nearby river...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKLfg5YxxCvQ8CFCqde6wDyMjp5mSfaFYGflCz8cFrwR2m-xjncsqsNBRcP0cYcp01Rb_7tsef95vgAYFt677ikGXl4I6BIIHWAU7ahvCfUWxMR8ewaGK2VByDRD8MdUf7mvekKhD2nFw/s1600/photo+2+%25286%2529-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKLfg5YxxCvQ8CFCqde6wDyMjp5mSfaFYGflCz8cFrwR2m-xjncsqsNBRcP0cYcp01Rb_7tsef95vgAYFt677ikGXl4I6BIIHWAU7ahvCfUWxMR8ewaGK2VByDRD8MdUf7mvekKhD2nFw/s640/photo+2+%25286%2529-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">& gardens in full bloom...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboIYq4qPmM-fCm6ApUevYeIqObhGVTn1z5wFfCoH8WI8xxU17h23bekD9MunQGjFGpPfXGdflJPRb16UsaE7jdK6T7uaapFIvTsPMnPu-5DRyOxXJWVPuokZATwlWMdO9vu_xJ3XHCUUR/s1600/photo+3+(6)1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboIYq4qPmM-fCm6ApUevYeIqObhGVTn1z5wFfCoH8WI8xxU17h23bekD9MunQGjFGpPfXGdflJPRb16UsaE7jdK6T7uaapFIvTsPMnPu-5DRyOxXJWVPuokZATwlWMdO9vu_xJ3XHCUUR/s640/photo+3+(6)1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting into the back-to-school groove,</div><div style="text-align: center;">life is hopping around here</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Soon to feel the calm...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How are you enjoying the last bit of summer?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Last Weeks Of Summer

The great weather continues to hold in England as summer dons her most beautiful dress Views of fields and majestic oak trees... charming ho...

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